Chapter 247: The simple things 1
FIA
The second Morrigan led us into the now empty kitchen, it started to sll like rosemary and butter.
The Grand Luna was moving around the space with the kind of efficiency that spoke of decades spent in this room. She pulled out a pan before retrieving ingredients from the refrigerator. Her movents were practiced and sure.
"Sit," she said without turning around.
I glanced at Cian. He guided
to one of the chairs at the small table tucked into the corner of the kitchen. The wood was worn smooth from years of use. I sank into it and the exhaustion I was sure I didn’t feel, hit
all at once.
Cian took the seat beside . His hand stayed in mine.
I did appreciate that the kitchen was warm. Warr than the rest of the estate. Maybe it was the stove that Morrigan had just turned on. Maybe it was sothing else entirely.
I watched her work. She diced vegetables with quick movents, threw them into the pan with a sizzle that made my stomach remind
I hadn’t eaten real or solid in hours. She added chicken that had been sitting in so kind of marinade. The sll hit
and my mouth watered.
"How are you feeling, Fia?" She didn’t look up from the pan.
"Tired," I admitted. "But okay."
"Just okay?"
I thought about it. I really thought about it. My body felt strange. But the feeling was not particularly a bad feeling. I felt...different. Like sothing fundantal had shifted and settled into a new configuration.
"Better than okay, actually." The words surprised
as much as they probably surprised her. "I feel great. More than great if that even makes sense."
Morrigan glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes found mine and held them.
"I haven’t felt this way in a long while," I continued. "But I did feel a bit tired."
She turned back to the stove, stirred the vegetables and added so kind of sauce that slled like garlic.
"You must heal fast." Her tone was matter of fact. "Surprising."
Was it though? Lady Selene had called
sothing. A healer from the age of legends. Whatever that ant. Whatever I was now.
I didn’t say any of that out loud. I could feel a slight worry through the mate bond. Cian was definitely worried about his mom. About what she would think and whether she would be able to sleep at night if I remotely even ntioned that I had technically died and being here with her in this room was nothing less of a fucking miracle.
Cian stood and moved to the refrigerator. He pulled out a pitcher of what looked like orange juice and he found three glasses in the large as life cabinet. I watched him pour them with the sa careful attention he gave everything tonight.
He set them on the table. One in front of . One in front of his empty seat. One where his mother would sit.
Morrigan turned from the stove with the pan in hand. She looked at the glasses and frowned.
"Water would have been better."
"She needs the vitamins." Cian’s voice was calm.
"Water is what the body needs after trauma."
"Juice has water in it."
"That is not the sa thing and you know it."
I watched them go back and forth. The easy rhythm of it. The way they fell into this pattern like they’d done it a thousand tis before. Probably had.
Sothing warm blood in my chest. It spread through
like the first rays of sun after a long cold night.
This was what family looked like. Not the cold formality of pack I was used to. Or the careful distance my father had always maintained. This was real. It was ssy and apparently full of small disagreents about juice versus water.
Ho was here.
The thought arrived fully ford and I didn’t question it. I didn’t even second guess it. I just let it settle.
A smile tugged at my lips. Small at first, Then it grew wider.
Morrigan noticed. She looked at my face and sothing in her expression softened. She didn’t comnt on it though. She simply turned back to plate the food.
She set a dish in front of
a minute later. Roasted chicken with vegetables that glistened with herbs my nose caught as garlic, black pepper and butter. A small portion of rice was on the side. It was simple, as it was perfect.
"Eat up," she said.
I picked up my fork. The first bite was heaven. The chicken was tender. The vegetables had just enough bite left in them. The seasoning was exactly right.
I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating. My body rembered what food was supposed to be and demanded more.
Morrigan sat across from . Cian returned to his seat. They both had smaller portions. They ate slowly. Watching
more than their own plates.
"This is delicious," I said between bites.
"My mother makes the best roasted chicken in all of Skollrend." Cian’s voice held pride.
"Flattery will get you nowhere." But Morrigan’s lips twitched into an almost smile.
I finished my plate faster than I probably should have. The food sat warm and heavy in my stomach.
Morrigan stood and took my empty plate before I could offer to help. She moved to the sink and ran water over it.
"The Ogas shouldn’t have much work to do tomorrow," I heard her mutter.
"Cian." She didn’t turn around. "Take Fia to bed and make sure she sleeps."
"Of course."
"And you better not have any funny ideas."
Heat crept up my neck. Cian coughed slightly.
"I wouldn’t dream of it," he said.
I stood on legs that felt steadier than they had any right to agree what happened to . I then moved toward Morrigan at the sink.
"Thank you." My voice ca out quieter than I ant it to. "For the food. For spending ti with ."
She turned. Her hands were still wet from the dishes. She dried them on a towel and then reached out to touch my cheek.
"That is rubbish." Her tone was firm but her eyes were soft. "We are family. Who else would I spend ti with?"
Family. The word hit different when she said it. When she ant it.
"I am just glad you are alive and well." Her hand dropped. "We will do a lot of talking tomorrow. About everything. Got it?"
I nodded.
"So rest well tonight." She reached up and fixed a strand of my hair that had fallen across my face and tucked it behind my ear with the kind of gentle care that made my throat tight. "Goodnight, Fia."
"Goodnight," I managed.
She smiled. Then she turned back to finish the dishes.
Cian was beside
a mont later. His hand found the small of my back and that gentle pressure guided
toward the door.
We walked through the quiet halls of the estate. My feet left faint damp marks on the marble that faded almost imdiately.
When we reached the Luna suite, I stopped and looked down at myself. The thin hospital gown and even the small spots of blood that had dried brown against so of my skin.
"I’ll definitely need a bath," I said.
"Need help?"
I turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Your mother said you shouldn’t have any funny ideas."
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